Multiple Music Instruments?

[HalloweenCheeseboard]

Hi, hoping for some advice from the parents of very musical children.

My youngest DD was just sitting at the piano, looking at the sheet music for Fur Elise and slowly starting to play it. Far from perfect and it took a while to get it right.

But….DD is 8 and has never had a piano lesson. She is working on Grade 3 Flute and has grade one on both recorder and viola. Apparently she had looked at a YouTube tutorial and figured out where the notes were on the piano-treble clef and bass clef and then she went for it.

I am wondering if I should do something about it? However, I am a bit reluctant to have her playing a lot of different instruments.. She plays both the viola and the flute in (different) orchestras and ensembles (and has private lessons in both) She also has a recorder group lesson and apparently an ensemble within that group.

Should I do something about the piano or just let it go…?

Piano is a useful instrument to have in your arsenal - theory, composing, accompanying. There's no rush though. Practising 3 is hard and would get harder as she progresses, particularly if 2+recorder involve ensemble time too. Maybe see how the two instruments she already has progress.

When I wanted to take up piano as a second, my parents gave me a book and told me if I practised consistently and got to the end of the book I could have lessons. So maybe something like that. Though I don't know what book you'd give to someone who can just sit down and work out hands together playing!

It might be that for now it's a holiday/once a week hobby.

It sounds like she already has a lot on musically. Taking on board additional lessons and scheduled practice sessions might be too much. Maybe for now just let her play about with the piano unless of course she wants lessons. My DD plays two woodwind instruments and is in various ensembles. She enjoys picking out tunes on the piano to relax and wind down. I think she likes the fact that there is zero pressure or obligation and it is purely fun.

My daughter played recorder, flute and piano to grade 8 and guitar to grade 8. We found the guitar to be a bit much, hence she stopped at grade 5. She is now a lawyer but considered a music degree and started the piano as she said she would need it if she did want to pursue music.